Phylicia Bernard is a former Licensed Practical Nurse turned Registered Nurse turned Personal Stylist/Style Blogger! She was born in Guyana and migrated to the US with her family for a better life. A fashionista since childhood, Phylicia initially chose the field of nursing to provide a financial security blanket for her family. However 4 years into her career she realized that her heart was in fashion and not nursing. Determined to follow her dreams, she made the bold leap and quit her job to start her own personal styling business “Style IngeNEWity.”
“My biggest mission in life is to empower women to feel like the best version of themselves.”
“Style IngeNEWity” serves powerful, ambitious women from all walks of life who are playing big in the world, equipping them with the style tools to stand out and command attention in their industry and life! Phylicia believes that when you develop a personal style that works specifically for you, you not only feel a 1000% more confident but the constant “what do I wear? what do I buy?” syndrome women experience is eliminated for good and their closet wars finally end.
Here’s how Phylicia traded her nursing career for the of world fashion, in her words.
“I know, I know, what can a nurse teach you about style right?
Funny story is, four years ago, I made my boldest move ever and quit nursing to start my styling business. Nursing was a fulfilling journey I began in my high school years and continued into adulthood. It required persistence, dedication and provided great fulfillment when I saw how much I helped or changed someone’s life health wise.
However, as an ambitious woman, I’m sure you can relate, that in everything we do we must be passionate, or it will never be the best experience for us!
I remember the exact day I mentally retired my scrubs and nursing crocs, after realizing that I was not living in my truth and not making as big of an impact as I wanted to make in this world. Nursing was something I did because it was available, my Caribbean parents wanted to ensure my security and I was determined to finish what I started (i’m no quitter). But, I always knew fashion and style held the key to my heart; for goodness sake I was trying to give scrubs a personality and look polished in them (can you imagine how hard that was). I wanted to break free; to express myself on my own terms. Fashion had always been my explanation before I spoke, but my outward identity and appearance was now screaming, “Hi I’m a nurse and nothing more”. I felt trapped!
I truly respected nurses who were passionate and did what they loved (and still do). For that reason I gracefully bowed out, passed the torch and decided to also do what I loved and serve those that were in need of my help.
Without hands-on fashion industry experience or schooling, I daringly quit my nursing job and immersed myself in the fashion world with full force. I made some connections and quickly realized that as an introverted gal, it was my personal style and overall image that usually peaked the interest of others time and time again. What I considered an outright declaration of who I was, got the conversation started for me! I knew that this was an important way to stand out from the crowd, attract those we desire to attract and make bold statements about who we are right away.
Needless to say, I changed paths. My purpose, passion and motivation is to help you show up even bigger in the world..
Phylicia has styled women from many backgrounds and budgets at highly acclaimed fashion houses like Saks Fifth Avenue. She has also been a participating stylist for major fashion shows such as Diesel Black Gold during New York Fashion Week for two seasons. When she is not transforming a client’s look, she is being a momma to a sweet baby boy or enjoying all that NYC has to offer!”
To contact Phylicia call (347) 677-4240 or visit Style IngeNEWity.
Yasssssss Phylicia Bernard
Thank you sooo much for the support Guyanese family!!!